A year ago, the county seat of Taicang had been attacked by bandits. They had devastated the city walls and destroyed countless shops within the city. When He Yiming first arrived then, the scene before his eyes was one of utter devastation, a truly heartbreaking sight.

However, as He Yiming once again stood beneath the walls of Taicang County a little over a year later, he couldn't help but pause in stunned silence.

Those towering city walls bore no resemblance to the memory etched in his mind. If he hadn't possessed absolute confidence in himself, certain that he wasn't directionally challenged, seeing these colossal walls would have made him suspect he had taken a wrong turn.

Yuan Lixun, on the other hand, had never witnessed the city in its ruined state, so she was completely unaware of its past. From a distance, she gazed curiously at the height of the walls and the throng of people moving in and out, exclaiming in awe, "Young Master, Taicang County is truly prosperous. Even compared to our own Prefecture City, it is no less magnificent."

He Yiming curved his lips into a faint smile, taking Yuan Lixun's hand. Instead of entering immediately, he utilized his light-foot technique to circle the entire perimeter of the city walls.

Moments later, he had surveyed the surrounding environment.

Taicang County was now easily five times larger than it had been before. However, such a monumental undertaking could absolutely not have been completed in just one year.

Of the entire wall, only the side where he arrived had a completed parapet; the other three sides only featured the tops of the battlements, with the rest of the sections undergoing vigorous construction.

Perhaps due to the city's impending prosperity, every bastion was crowded with people.

Even though those entering and exiting were directed to separate streams, the flow remained intensely congested.

Furthermore, at every section of the wall still under construction, in addition to the laborers, countless patrolling soldiers were stationed, meaning no one dared to attempt entry or exit there.

Seeing this scene, He Yiming himself was astonished by the speed of the reconstruction.

Before he had last left home, he knew the county seat was slated for rebuilding and expansion, but for the Cheng family's influence to achieve this so rapidly? It seemed highly improbable.

After circling once, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun reappeared near the city gate as if conjured from thin air.

He Yiming controlled their reappearance perfectly; though sudden, they materialized in the blind spot of most observers, remaining virtually undetected.

Only one small child, perhaps five or six years old, stared at them with wide eyes, seemingly unable to comprehend how they could suddenly appear in that spot.

However, before the little fellow could puzzle out this profound mystery, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun were already gone, heading towards the main gate.

Though they wore no silks or fine brocades, merely commoner's cloth.

Yet, not only He Yiming, a Congenital expert, but even Yuan Lixun now was a minor master of the Houtian realm, having reached the seventh level of Inner Strength.

Seventh level Inner Strength might not be remarkable within the Hengshan lineage, but this was Taicang County. Even among the third-generation scions of the three great aristocratic families, He Yitian was the sole expert at this level. This illustrated the formidable status such individuals commanded in Taicang County.

As the pair walked down the main thoroughfare, a subtle difference naturally separated them from ordinary people.

People subconsciously yielded a few steps around them, creating a noticeable space. Once everyone else followed this impulse, the two were suddenly highlighted.

He Yiming frowned slightly, realizing this was due to his own inattention.

After staying in the deep mountains for so long, he had forgotten about the omnipresent, powerful true energy inherent to a Congenital expert. While it wouldn't harm the innocent, mingling in a crowd was like being a beacon in the darkest night, perpetually radiating an intense glow.

Standing out from the crowd, there was no other way to describe it...

He shook his head slightly, truly unable to tolerate the intentional and unintentional glances stealing towards them. Finally, he took Yuan Lixun's hand and strode forward resolutely.

He only slightly intensified the naturally emanating, exceedingly faint aura of a powerhouse. This degree of presence would cause no physical harm to ordinary people, but it would compel them to instinctively keep their distance.

So, as they proceeded directly toward the city gate, everyone willingly stepped aside to clear a path.

This strange phenomenon immediately drew the attention of the gate guards. Even if these soldiers lacked perception, seeing this display, they understood instantly that these two were not to be trifled with—certainly not people they could afford to offend.

A squad leader quickly pushed past the other guards and hurried forward, bowing and scraping, "Esteemed sirs, may I inquire as to your esteemed names and origin?"

He Yiming stopped, asking with surprise, "Is registration required for entry now?"

If an ordinary person had asked this, the squad leader would have long since delivered a slap. But facing He Yiming, who had not concealed his aura, he didn't even entertain such a thought; instead, he replied respectfully, "Ordinary folk certainly do not require it, but your distinguished status is naturally extraordinary. This subordinate is merely following protocol, I beg the two of you not to make things difficult."

The squad leader explained while bowing and kowtowing, his expression utterly sincere.

Yuan Lixun gently tugged at He Yiming. He let out a helpless smile. "My name is He Yiming, this is my wife, Yuan Lixun. As for where we come from, you need not know." With that, he took Yuan Lixun's hand and, ignoring the man completely, walked straight past.

The squad leader felt a surge of anger and made several attempts to block them, yet ultimately dared not overstep.

Suddenly, his movements froze. Recalling the name He Yiming had given, his face drastically changed, and his body began to tremble.

A soldier nearby stepped forward, "Commander Cheng, who exactly are those two? They show you no respect. They even dare to hold hands in broad daylight! Should we go teach them a lesson and extort some silver to offer you?"

Commander Cheng was startled for a moment, then a sheet of cold sweat broke out across his back, instantly soaking both his outer and inner garments. In his eyes now, this soldier, usually so adept at flattering him, looked like a terrifying demon.

Without hesitation, he slapped the soldier across the face, sending him spinning like a top.

When the dizzy soldier fell, he was immediately knocked unconscious.

The surrounding soldiers stood in fearful silence, unsure how their comrade had offended their leader. But their leader, Commander Cheng, was a distant kinsman of the Cheng family—even if he wasn't favored by the all-powerful Cheng household, he was certainly not someone they, as minor figures, could provoke.

With just one word from Commander Cheng, their current comfortable posts would be shattered. Thus, they stood rigidly at attention, not daring to utter a sound.

Commander Cheng snorted angrily, ignoring whether the man was conscious. "Blind fool! What's wrong with holding hands? That's called... being fashionable, you idiot."

Then, he swept a fierce glare across the others. "Listen up, all of you! Keep your eyes sharp and don't invite trouble. Today, you follow the rules strictly. If I find out otherwise, I will report directly to the City Lord and have every last one of you flayed!"

With that, he let out a cold snort and strode away quickly.

The soldiers exchanged bewildered glances, unsure why Commander Cheng had erupted or why he had cut off their usual source of petty graft.

However, under the stern authority Commander Cheng had established, they dared not resist. A moment later, they resumed letting people enter the city. But this time, it was the common folk who were astonished, for besides the fixed entry tax, the soldiers accepted not a single bribe; even those who tried to offer customary gratuities were firmly refused.

Consequently, the crowd murmured in wonder, and those who had witnessed He Yiming and Yuan Lixun entering the city began to secretly speculate about their identities.

He Yiming, naturally, paid no mind to the events unfolding behind them. He and Yuan Lixun strolled through the city with smiles, soon arriving at the most prosperous district.

He had originally intended to enter and pay respects to his parents, but passing through this area, seeing the gleam in Yuan Lixun's eyes, his heart softened, and he decided to accompany her for a leisurely stroll.

Of course, upon entering the city, He Yiming had learned his lesson and completely retracted his aura, allowing not the slightest leak. Thus, when others looked his way, they could no longer sense that distinct quality about him.

As soon as she entered this area, Yuan Lixun's gaze became bright and sharp, but she used her eyes far more than her mouth, and certainly did not engage in physical interactions.

It seemed merely looking around was enough to satisfy her.

He Yiming sighed softly. The prosperity here had undergone a tremendous transformation compared to a year ago; even he found it somewhat overwhelming to take in.

Suddenly, He Yiming's ears twitched slightly. Although he wasn't consciously employing his Clairaudience divine skill, if he couldn't hear someone he knew speaking nearby, the skill wouldn't deserve the name of a Congenital divine skill.

He tightened his grip slightly on Yuan Lixun's hand. She turned back in surprise to see He Yiming gesturing toward the rear-side with a strange expression.

Yuan Lixun looked in that direction, utterly baffled, then her small mouth curved slightly, revealing a look caught between a laugh and tears.

There, too, was a young couple, smiling as they selected something at a stall. Although they engaged in no intimate actions, not even holding hands, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun could discern from subtle movements that their relationship was far from simple.

Of course, what truly astonished He Yiming and Yuan Lixun was that this pair was none other than He Yiming's fourth elder sister, He Yiling, and the Yuan family's eldest young master, Yuan Liling.

Upon seeing them, Yuan Lixun's first action was to pull her hand free from He Yiming's, which immediately left him feeling quite glum. If he had known, he would have pretended not to notice.

He Yiling and Yuan Liling were both experts at the sixth level of Inner Strength. Having been gazed upon by eyes from a certain direction for too long, they naturally became aware of it.

They turned their heads almost simultaneously towards that source of attention.

However, upon clearly seeing the faces of He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, they both exclaimed in surprise, yet their subsequent reactions were markedly different.

He Yiling's face lit up with pure delight, her eyes shining faintly. As for Yuan Liling, the muscles in his face stiffened, and his gaze towards He Yiming was filled with awe, perhaps even more constrained than when he met his own grandfather.

He Yiming smiled faintly, took a few steps forward, weaving through the crowd, and soon reached his fourth sister's side.

"Sixth Brother, you've returned!" He Yiling said joyfully, "You've been gone a whole year; everyone missed you terribly."

He Yiming nodded, acknowledging her softly. Yet, a profound warmth surged in his heart, and his thoughts instantly drifted back to the old He Family Village. There, especially every morning, the group of third-generation disciples would undertake their morning exercises in the rear courtyard, led by their Third Uncle.

For some unknown reason, when He Yiming recalled the He Family Village, this specific memory remained the most deeply imprinted.

The He Family Village was established by He Wude and had a relatively short history; there weren't many third-generation disciples. But precisely because of this, the bonds between the third-generation members were far deeper than those in aristocratic families with centuries of lineage.

Perhaps due to certain circumstances, minor friction could arise, but within their generation, familial affection had not yet faded; blood was indeed thicker than water.

Even though He Yiming was a Congenital expert, upon seeing his fourth sister, he realized that the care and attachment he felt for his relatives far surpassed what he had ever imagined.

"Fourth Sister, are you out shopping?" He Yiming seemed to have completely shed his identity as a Congenital expert, asking like an ordinary person speaking to family, "What were you looking to buy?"

As he said this, his gaze flickered towards Yuan Liling, and the faint, wry smile that appeared on his face caused He Yiling’s cheeks to flush deeply.

"Sixth Brother, don't jump to conclusions, we aren't involved in anything."

"Fourth Sister, perhaps you misunderstood," He Yiming dropped his smile, adopting a serious tone. "I haven't said anything at all."

He Yiling gave the rogue a sharp glare, then suddenly seeming to recall something, she sighed, "Sixth Brother, when you go back, don't tell Father, okay?"

He Yiming paused, suspicion clouding his mind. He asked in a deep voice, "Fourth Sister, what happened? Did you have some misunderstanding with Third Uncle?"

He Yiling shook her head, remaining silent. After the initial joy of reuniting with her Sixth Brother, she seemed to finally recall his exceptional status. As a member of an aristocratic family, she understood the weight of a Congenital expert, and she hesitated to voice the thoughts hidden in her heart.

He Yiming's gaze shifted to Yuan Liling. The eldest young master of the Yuan family bowed deeply. "Greetings, Master He."

His demeanor was completely deferential, daring not show the slightest disrespect.

He Yiming nodded slightly. Seeing his expression, he knew trying to extract information from him would likely be impossible.

Yuan Lixun felt a stir, stepped forward, and gently pulled Yuan Liling aside. The brother and sister began a hushed conversation nearby.

"Big Brother, what is going on between you and Miss Yiling?"

"Alas, Miss He and I are deeply fond of each other, and our families' statuses are quite suitable. But Third Master He harbors deep prejudice against me and absolutely refuses to agree to our marriage. Instead, he wants to arrange matches for Miss He with the Cheng family or the Xu family."

Yuan Lixun blinked her beautiful large eyes. She was surprised. "Why is that?"

Yuan Liling managed a wry smile. "How would I know? Perhaps he simply finds me distasteful." As he spoke, a hint of indignation crept into his voice, but constrained by the He family's current might, he dared not voice it openly.

Yuan Lixun shook her head slightly and turned to look at He Yiming. She was certain that, given He Yiming's power, he had easily overheard every word.

He Yiming did indeed frown, yet he too could not fathom Third Uncle's thinking.

However, his judgment was now quite astute. Looking at how the young couple interacted, he immediately understood that they were genuinely fond of each other. It seemed cruel to forcefully separate them because of Third Uncle's insistence. Moreover, hearing from Yuan Liling that Third Uncle favored a scion from the Xu or Cheng family only fueled his own displeasure.

He smiled faintly. "Fourth Sister, let's go back first. We'll see Third Uncle, and I'll put in a good word for you; perhaps Uncle will change his mind."

He Yiling looked up sharply, a light of sheer joy flashing in her eyes.

Having received He Yiming's promise, she felt like a drowning person who had grasped a massive log and pulled herself onto a vessel. She knew that although her Sixth Brother was not an elder in the family, his status meant his words likely held more sway than those of the actual elders. If he truly spoke on their behalf, perhaps Father would genuinely agree.

Although a lady's reserve made it difficult for her to reply verbally, her gaze conveyed everything her heart felt.

The four of them walked in tandem, heading towards the He family's courtyard in the city.

He Yiming and Yuan Lixun walked together, while He Yiling and Yuan Liling followed a slight distance behind.

As if prompted by some subtle signal from Yuan Lixun, a strange light flickered across Yuan Liling's face.

He lowered his head and asked softly, "Yiling, do you think Master He will speak for us?"

He Yiling replied with certainty, "My relationship with Sixth Brother has been good since childhood; he will definitely plead with Father." As she spoke, a glimmer of hope shone in her eyes. "If Sixth Brother speaks up, Father will at least reconsider. In our family now, Sixth Brother holds at least half the deciding power."

Yuan Liling had no disagreement with this. He inwardly mused that if the Yuan family possessed a Congenital expert, then never mind half the power—his father and grandfather would likely not dare object to anything he wished.

Suddenly, a thought struck him: If he himself were a Congenital expert right now, or a peak Houtian cultivator at the tenth level of Inner Strength, would He Quanyi still be so firmly opposed to the match?

He looked at the two figures walking slowly ahead, and an intense desire to reach the pinnacle of the martial path surged within him.

It was an irrepressible feeling, for in that moment, he suddenly felt that the power and influence within the family seemed so small and fragile compared to that immense strength.

P.S.: Another chapter around ten o'clock. I used to have stockpiled chapters, so I could release three chapters straight at 7:30 PM. Now that I have no backlog, finishing and revising before 7:30 PM is extremely difficult. Sigh... Please forgive me, fellow Crane Friends. In the future, when I post two chapters daily, the update time will be fixed at 7:30 PM. But if there are three chapters, it will be later, perhaps not until 10:30 PM, or maybe even early the next morning. In short, White Crane will do his best. Please be understanding regarding any inconvenience this causes. Ah, how I miss the days when I had backup drafts!